One of the things we really wanted to do on this trip was travel across the Strait of Gibraltar and visit the country of Morocco.  In order to do this, we booked tickets ahead of time and the itinerary showed a pick up time of 6am in Malaga on a coach bus (10 minute walk from our apartment) and then and then a ferry from Tarife (in Spain), to Tangier, Africa. Luckily, we went to a ‘tourist information centre’ the day before to confirm the pick up place and time and that’s when we found out that the pick up time had changed to 8am! So, we were glad we called.

What we didn’t expect was exactly how long and ‘shady’ the trip to Morocco would be.  We were up at 6:30am to catch an 8:00am bus in Malaga.  We figured the ride to Tarife would take about 1hr.  What we didn’t realise was that we were first on the pick up route and ‘many others’ from different hotels were being picked up throughout Costa del Sol and that the drive to the ferry would take 2 1/2 hours.  However, as long as we got to Tangier – all good.  But then there was a major stumbling block.  We arrived at Tarife, and the ferry we were supposed to take over the strait, was not able to go, so we were told the tour may be canceled if we couldn’t get on another ferry (not happy). There was an hour wait at the port and then we were told we could jump on the only other ferry going, so there was a mad scramble with passport collection and security check points. Anyway, we ended  up on a ferry to Tangier in the end – hurray!!

It all worked out and it was a whirlwind visit to the market districts where we shopped and had presentations about the carpet industry, homeopathic medicines and the history of Tangier and Morocco. We had a typical Moroccan lunch and toured different areas of the city by coach bus and got out at a park and to ride camels (Go Breezy!). The weather was gorgeous and it was a really beautiful day to be in Morocco (despite the hoards of street merchants begging us for money!). An eye opener overall for the children. We were back on the ferry in Tangier at 6:30pm, the bus in Tarife at 9:00pm, and home at 12:00am.  Big day!!!

Morocco ended up being a very unique experience.  It definitely tested our preconceived notions.  For example, the lush green vegetation that surrounds areas of Tangier, the modern shopping malls and the pleasantness of life away from the Medina.  Certainly an experience that will stay with us for a long time.